In response to the government’s promotion of virtue and prevention of vice law, Amnesty International states that this law is an open attack on human rights and must be immediately repealed.
On Tuesday night, September 6, the organization condemned the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice law once again through a message on its X account, calling for its repeal by the current government.
Amnesty International emphasized that the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice law is accompanied by a clear violation of Afghanistan’s international obligations, imposing and institutionalizing severe restrictions on women and girls.
The organization added that this law describes women’s voices in public spaces as a “moral offense.”
It further stated that women and girls in Afghanistan are currently facing severe restrictions under the current government, affecting all aspects of their lives.
The message notes that the promotion of virtue law also imposes broader societal restrictions, including regulations on how men and boys should groom their beards or hair.
Amnesty International claims that this law grants extensive powers to the agents of virtue promotion and vice prevention, allowing them to threaten, detain, and punish individuals accused of violating this group’s “promotion of virtue” law.
This action by the current government has been described as a clear violation of Afghanistan’s commitments under international human rights treaties.
Additionally, Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists have conducted extensive investigations and gathered evidence showing that the current government’s severe restrictions on the rights of women and girls, along with practices such as imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture, and other forms of mistreatment, could be classified as crimes against humanity in the context of gender persecution under the Rome Statute.
The organization noted that the promotion of virtue law, which appears aimed at consolidating this group’s control over society and further suppressing women and girls, has raised widespread concerns at both national and international levels.
Many human rights organizations and international bodies have called on the current government to immediately repeal this decree and respect Afghanistan’s human rights commitments.
This comes as Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the interim government, recently ratified the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law, which is now in effect.
The law includes an introduction, four chapters, and 35 articles. It is worth noting that Article 13 of this law, consisting of eight clauses, is dedicated to “provisions regarding women’s hijab.”
According to the announced law, Clause 1 states that “the covering of a woman’s entire body is obligatory,” Clause 2 mentions that “hiding a woman’s face due to fear of temptation is necessary,” and Clause 3 emphasizes that “women’s voices (singing songs, reciting poetry, and reading in gatherings) are considered private.”
Clause 4 states that “women’s clothing must not be thin, short, or tight,” Clause 5 mentions that “Muslim women are obliged to conceal their bodies and faces from non-mahram men,” and Clause 6 states that “the covering of Muslim and righteous women from infidel and corrupt women due to fear of temptation is obligatory.”
This law has also provoked reactions. However, officials from the current government have described international responses to its enactment as “impudence.”
